CHARLESTON, W.Va. − The West Virginia Education Association issued the following statement in response to the appointment of Senator Patricia Rucker as Senate Education Committee chair.

We are disappointed to hear that Senator Rucker has been named chair of the Senate Education Committee and to read Senator Carmichael’s statement that “…she understands it will take bold reforms and landmark change to truly make a difference in West Virginia’s educational landscape.”

Patricia Rucker, a home-school and private-school advocate and vaccine requirement opponent, will be the state Senate Education Committee’s chairwoman, replacing the teachers union-backed Kenny Mann, Senate President Mitch Carmichael announced Tuesday.

The Legislature’s other education body will also see new leadership when the next session starts Jan. 9. Delegate Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, said he’ll no longer be leading the House...

With a marathon of meetings Monday afternoon, the PEIA Task Force approved a series of recommendations to present to the West Virginia Legislature on Tuesday, but left many key issues unresolved.

Despite a Tuesday deadline to submit its recommendations, Task Force Chairman Mike Hall, who is chief of staff to Gov. Jim Justice, announced Monday that Justice has decided to extend the Task Force so it can continue work on the unresolved...